People return to Dhaka even on foot

Thousands of people were seen returning to Dhaka after spending the Eid holiday at their village homes on Friday, amid the first day of the 14-day strict lockdown.

The government imposed the fresh lockdown to curb the rapid surge in Covid-19 disease across the country.

The lockdown started on Friday morning and the first day was more effective than any other before. Roads in Dhaka were seen thin as there was no public transport or private motor vehicles.

The law enforcement officials were found interrogating people who were in movement.

The strict restrictions have forced Dhaka returnees to move by different types of vehicle, even on foot.

“I am coming from Noakhali. At first, I took a rickshaw from my home, then a CNG, then a pickup, and again by a rickshaw. I have spent Tk 1,500 as fare,” Naimul Hasan told the Business Insider Bangladesh.

He said his younger brother was going abroad which was why he came to Dhaka.

“Though police allowed us to travel, we suffered a lot as there were no public transports,” he added.

Abdur Rahim, a small retail vegetable businessman was found coming to Dhaka on foot from Cumilla through the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

“I come today to catch the next morning trade. Initially, I thought I would come with a pickup van but the police did not allow that. So I have to walk along,” he said.

Thousands of people were seen returning to Dhaka on the day for different reasons, but all of them suffered a lot. Naimul and Abdur Rahim were two such cases.

Their sufferings intensified with entering Dhaka, especially from entry points – Sayedabad, Gabtoli, Abdullahpur.

Abdul Motin Khan, deputy commissioner at Narayangonj Police, was on duty at Signboard area in the capital. He told the Business insider Bangladesh, “In fact, we will be too strict for two days so that people can understand the situation. Everyone in the road is being interrogated, if we get reasonable reason we allow them to enter Dhaka, otherwise we send back.”

“We are instructed to make the lockdown a success to prevent the contamination of the deadly virus. These 14 days they will be very strict,” he added.